Michael Manley, COO of Fiat-Chrysler Asia Pacific, announced that Dodge's days in Australia are numbered and that the automaker plans to expand the Fiat range in this country.
“We haven’t taken a decision to formally kill Dodge in Australia, but if we follow the same pattern as we have in other international markets then it’s certainly only a matter of time,” he said.
The Dodge Journey will likely make room for the Fiat Freemont, based on the same platform, while the Dodge Dart will be sold as the Fiat Viaggio – provided that Chrysler reverses its decision not to build the car in right-hand drive.
The Freemont is mechanically identical to the Journey and offers a choice of a 3.6L Pentastar V6 or a 2.0L, 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine. The bodywork, however, stays true to Fiat styling. Production is scheduled to start in the second half of 2012.
Chrysler Australia and Fiat have also discussed the future of Alfa Romeo, which will officially join the fold on May 1st. The Viaggio, inspired from the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, recently made its debut at the Beijing Auto Show and will roll off the assembly line starting in late June.
Soure: GoAuto
“We haven’t taken a decision to formally kill Dodge in Australia, but if we follow the same pattern as we have in other international markets then it’s certainly only a matter of time,” he said.
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| Photomontage: Auto123.com |
The Dodge Journey will likely make room for the Fiat Freemont, based on the same platform, while the Dodge Dart will be sold as the Fiat Viaggio – provided that Chrysler reverses its decision not to build the car in right-hand drive.
The Freemont is mechanically identical to the Journey and offers a choice of a 3.6L Pentastar V6 or a 2.0L, 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine. The bodywork, however, stays true to Fiat styling. Production is scheduled to start in the second half of 2012.
Chrysler Australia and Fiat have also discussed the future of Alfa Romeo, which will officially join the fold on May 1st. The Viaggio, inspired from the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, recently made its debut at the Beijing Auto Show and will roll off the assembly line starting in late June.
Soure: GoAuto